After three games, South Wales has two points, thanks to Lumbard. They were defeated by La Pointe Youth Organization in the opening game and fell victim to defending champions, Malgretoute Youth Movement in a Saturday game. They would perhaps have won, if it was a Sunday game!!! The Blue Boys have a better chance of beating the Martiniquans in the 17th Annual Independence Road Relay set for Sunday 20th February 2005.
Go Dey South Wales. Hoo Hoo

PYO MAKES A POINT TO LA POINTE 4H

In a Sunday game at the Mon Repos Cricket Ground Patience Youth Organization defeated La Pointe 4H by 22 runs. Batting first PYO were bowled out for 131; Brian Calixte 36, Allan Moncherry and Brendon Wilson 10 each, being the top scorers.
Bowling for La Pointe 4H, Claudius Charlery three for 18, Hazel Charlery two for 12, Bertrand Robinson two for 25 and Mervin Robinson two for 30.
In their turn at the crease, La Pointe 4H were bowled out for 109; Kashinko Jason 21, Moses Dorleon 20 and Alloysius Norbert 13 being the main contributors.The successful bowlers for PYO were Dasius Joseph five for 35, Theodore Serieux two for 11, Brian Calixte two for 16 and Denis James one for 17.

MALGRETOUTE BEAT SOUTH WALES BY 62 RUNS IN LUCKY 3 CRICKET GAME

Game played on Saturday 29th January 2005, at the Mon Repos Cricket Ground.
Malgretoute 199 for 7 in 20 overs; Russell Emmanuel 72, Jeremiah Emmanuel 31 and Kemel Dorleon 20.
Extras – a healthy 47.
Bowling for South Wales, Kendell Samuel three for 17, Dominic Albert two for 51, R. Robinson one for 51 and Andy Descartes one for 44.
South Wales were bowled out for 137 in 19.2 overs; Andy Descartes 32, Roger Descartes 35 and Raymond Robinson 21.
For Malgretoute Russel Emmanuel had two for 10, Kemel Dorleon two for 20, Clearance Henry two for 16 and Walter Emmanuel one for 10.

A lucky looking bunch of youngsters comprising Malgretoute Youth Movement had the better of South Wales on Saturday 29th January at the Mon Repos Cricket Ground.

FREDERICK FINDLAY JN.BAPTISTE DIED TODAY 3RD FEBRUARY

Findlay Jn. Baptiste of Lumbard quietly passed away at his residence at Lumbard about midday on Thursday the 3rd day of February 2005. He is survived by his daughter Joy, and his wife Del as well as his brothers, Rodney, Gentil, Shandou, Young, Aulse and sisters Khatie (of La Pointe), Rhodette and Peitra. In his life time he worked at the Patience Estate as an apprentice, before leaving the shore of St. Lucia to seek a fortune in French Guiana. He later moved to England where he spent most of his adult life, before going to Jamaice to live with his wife Del in the late 1970’s. He returned home to Saint Lucia in the mid nineties when quietly settled at the place of his birth in Lumbard. We at Monrepossports.org extend condolences to the Jn. Baptiste family.

GRASS STREET – KEEPING THEIR HOPES ALIVE

With their game against Praslin failing to come off at the Wenn Playing Field, Grass Street took the opportunity to have a much needed team-practice session on the Mon Repos Combined School court. Their Chairman and Manager Guillus Mathurin is quite confident that the trophy will be going to the cemetery road at the end of the final game. Of course, not if LPYO, PYO or Malgretoute have their say.

THE GREAT RACE – FEB. 20-05

All is set for the 17th running of the Independence Road Relay. This exciting and keenly contested race is the signature event of the Mon Repos Youth & Sports Council, featuring participants from Saint Lucia and the French Department of Martinique. The eight-leg relay spans from the Mon Repos Gas Station to the Wannee Bridge and back – a feat, attainable in 73 minutes by the best of teams under the right conditions.
This year’s event is slated for Sunday 20th February 2005, 8:00 p.m. and will attract the usual large number of participants and followers. Seven teams are expected from Martinique and one from Guadeloupe.
Locally, the Road Busters Club is expected to carry the challenge to the Martiniquans and perhaps break their dominance over nearly two decades. Road Busters will be joining some of the Mon Repos affiliates in a “dry run” set for this Sunday 6th February 2005 at 8:00, when the teams run the leg from Wannee to Mon Repos. Amongst the local affiliates La Pointe led by Marcellus Charlery has been the most successful, but their record has been tainted by the fact that they have used runners not affiliated to their club. Other local clubs like PYO and Creation have from time to time done the same, despite the protest from the organizers. Since the regular participation of the visiting French runners, a sort of shyness and unwillingness on the part of local affiliates have prevailed. There is the stupid suggestion that we should not invite the visitors, because “they are going away with all the prize money” – $1,000.00 first prize!!! It is most disconcerting when such remarks come from persons who are not participating, never have and never will. It is important to point out the Martinquan’s meet their own expense of traveling and accommodation, albeit provided by sponsorship and the generousity of the French Government that pays for activities of that nature.
Notwithstanding the lack of enthusiasm in the past, increased interest has been shown by the female participants with teams from Malgretoute, Mabouya Valley challenging the female from Micoud, Anse Ger and Vieux-Fort Secondary Schools. Patience Infant, not to be underestimated, as they have from time to time beaten the senior females. The same cannot be said of my Alma Mata, Mon Repos Combined, from whence participation has been spasmodic over the years. The excuse – “the children do not want to run”, “the parents are not will to take the risk of allowing children to run on the road”, “cannot get a teacher to go with them”, “persons have to attend church service” to outline a few. As dear readers would know, we are a nation of excuses and the same attitude permeates the society in life in general, but that is for another discourse.
This year the organizers have taken the “running” of the event a notch higher, by using a local aircraft to provide surveillance and commentary. This one hour coverage will be provided with the assistance of General Aviation Services along with a local radio station. The aircraft will be under the control of Stephen “Ball Hog” Fevrier of Mon Repos, a licensed pilot.
Despite the growth and popularity of this international event over nearly two decades, the organizers may soon have to source additional or alternative sponsorship. The perennial sponsors Windward & Leeward Brewery Ltd. through its brand Piton Malta have found it commercially unwarranted to provide the desired level of sponsorship. Consequently there has been a drastic cut in the funding provided for the event over the last few years.
For now the Mon Repos Youth & Sports Council is committed to hosting a great race, and hopes to run a smooth event this year. Some tough decisions will have to be made next year as the little money raised from the annual raffle and other fundraisers cannot be used to subsidise the road relay supposedly sponsored by one of the largest commercial entities in the state.
Outside of the Inter-Secondary School championship, the Independent Road Relay is arguably the athletic event with the largest spectatorship.

For the second year running the day’s activity will close with an aerobics marathon for the various gyms and keep it organizations around the Island. This event takes place at 4:00 p.m. Sunday the 20th day of February 2005 at the Patience Multi Purpose Court.